Dillon Bates, a two-term Democratic state representative from Westbrook who has been accused of inappropriate relationships with female students, has resigned effective immediately.

Democratic House Speaker Sara Gideon, who had previously sought the two-term lawmaker’s resignation, shared an email Monday from the 30-year-old former teacher and coach.

“Speaker Gideon, I will be resigning my seat in the 128th Maine Legislature, effective tomorrow, August 20,” the email read. “The anonymous allegations against me are baseless and false. That said, with likely only a matter of hours of legislative work remaining, I do not wish to create any distractions.

“In my time away from the Legislature, I plan to focus on clearing my name. I am proud of my time in service to the City of Westbrook and the State of Maine. It has been an honor to be their voice in Augusta for the past four years, and I look forward to finding ways to serve my community, state, and country in the future. I wish all those who choose to serve our great state only the best.”

The resignation comes less than two weeks after Republican state Rep. Paula Sutton of Warren called for a House Ethics Committee session regarding the accusations against Bates.

Bates, through his lawyer, had previously denied wrongdoing, and had indicated he would not step down. He has not been charged with any crime.

Walter McKee, a lawyer for Bates, has said Bates would serve the rest of his term. Bates is not seeking re-election.

Three people who worked at the Maine Girls’ Academy, which closed in July because of financial problems, had told the Portland Press Herald earlier this month they each made separate reports to a state hotline set up for reporting possible child abuse.

The three said they made the calls in the days after Bates resigned in November, in part because they were not certain whether school leadership had reported the allegations.

House Republican Leader Ken Fredette released a statement Monday saying the House can now “focus on the important work we have left to finish.”

“With the announcement that Rep. Dillon Bates has decided to step down, the House of Representatives can put this matter behind us,” Fredette said in the statement.

The House is slated to come back into session Aug. 30 to handle unfinished business from this spring’s session.

Dillon Bates

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